Spinal Thrombosis Research Articles

Neurology and the lupus anticoagulant.

The lupus anticoagulant, an immunoglobulin of the IgG or IgM class, is one of a group of antiphospholipid antibodies. Although an anticoagulant in vitro, its action in vivo is that of a procoagulant. This procoagulant activity may involve many organ systems including the nervous system. Thus far cerebral thrombosis, spinal thrombosis, chorea and Guillain-Barré syndrome have been described in association with the lupus anticoagulant. Although the lupus anticoagulant is an uncommon cause of neurological disease, it must be considered, especially in a setting of a prolongation of the common pathway of coagulation, thrombosis and other autoimmune phenomena.

OBSERVATIONS ON CHARACTER OF THE ONSET OF SPINAL PARALYSIS WITH REFERENCE TO THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE APOPLECTIFORM TYPE OF ONSET IN CONTRAST TO THE SLOW PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF PARALYSIS

I desire to present a few observations on the significance of the variations in the character of the onset of certain forms of spinal paralysis, for I believe that in some instances the nature of the pathologic conditions present may be determined by the mode of onset alone. Extramedullary spinal tumors are generally found to be either fibromas or endotheliomas. They grow slowly, producing gradually a weakess of the limbs that increases progressively. Spinal thrombosis, on the other hand, is marked by a sudden or apoplectiform onset; it is not a rare condition, and is usually caused by syphilitic arteritis of one or more of the blood vessels of the spinal cord. The sudden onset of spinal paralysis, however, has also been regarded as indicative of hemorrhage within the cord; but spontaneous hemorrhage, or hematomyelia without trauma, is so exceedingly rare as to render its occurrence most doubtful, for it